Brown Goes Nuclear

Gordon Brown wants at least eight new nuclear power stations to be built over the next 15 years but says the market should determine the final total, according to reports. At a summit of the EU and Mediterranean states in Paris yesterday, the prime minister called for a “renaissance of nuclear power”.

Addressing 42 leaders from the EU, North Africa and Middle East at a "Union for the Mediterranean" summit in Paris, he said that oil dependency posed a threat to economic stability and family finances and was not environmentally sustainable. He supported the creation of "sun farms" in the Sahara and across the region.

The Prime Minister will set "no upper limit" on the number of nuclear plants that will be built by private companies. That would mean nuclear, which provides about 20 per cent of Britain's electricity, could meet a bigger share after the new generation of nuclear stations come on stream over the next 15 years.

Britain has 10 nuclear power stations in use, generating 10GW of electricity, but just one of these will still be operating by 2023.The government has promised to consult on its proposals for nuclear new-build. It is expected to start inviting site nominations at the end of the year.